Frank Bodani: PSU's shallow depth makes for an unpredictable season

Then, consider the coaching and teaching being done by head coach Bill O'Brien and his staff.

And add in the positive practice reports of various redshirt freshmen who didn't play last season.

Finally, make room for the expected improvement of underclassmen, such as sophomore tight end Jesse James, who got better and better down the stretch last year.

Do all of that with these Nittany Lions before the opener Saturday against Syracuse in Met-Life Stadium.

Throw in the downhills and the climbs of the schedule ahead.

What would you typically get?

Penn State's Deion Barnes takes down Northwestern quarterback Trevor Siemian during last season's game. Barnes and DaQuan Jones are two of the top defensive linemen in the league, but the Nittany Lions don't have much depth behind them. (Daily Record/Sunday News -- File)

You'd be looking at a 9-3 team headed to a New Year's Day bowl game for sure. Possibly, if things broke right, it could finish 10-2.

But you can't say that now.

And that's why this Penn State season is so much more difficult to predict than any other college team in the nation, in a sense.

Because no one else in the Football Bowl Subdivision has just about 65 scholarship players. Most everyone in the Big Ten and beyond has the luxury of 85 recruited players on full rides to play football.

That's where the dilemma comes in.

You know the Nittany Lions have three promising starting linebackers, once again. But there almost always were a few high-echelon younger stars ready to emerge.

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Not now. There only is Dallastown's Ben Kline and an under-the-radar recruit in Gary Wooten and true freshman Brandon Bell.

If two starting linebackers get hurt, maybe even one, the Lions will be in trouble.

Meanwhile, you know they also have two of the top defensive linemen in the league in Deion Barnes and DaQuan Jones. But there are serious depth concerns behind them, as well, at end and tackle.

If the Lions are unfortunate enough to get hit hard with injuries at linebacker and on the line, their defense will become vulnerable.

At that point, the more powerful teams in the Big Ten, especially those with solid running games, will expose the middle of Penn State's defense.

And that would have a domino effect to the offense and special teams and game planning.

Would even a stocked offense be able to outgun everyone on the schedule? It would place even more pressure on a rookie quarterback to perform, unreasonable pressure.

See how this goes?

Critics talk about Penn State being susceptible because of inexperience at quarterback, but, actually, that probably won't be much of a concern. The QBs have impressive talent, will get top teaching and have a lot of support around them.

Of course, in a way, the critics do have a point.

Talk to Frank

York Daily Record/Sunday News reporter Frank Bodani talks Penn State football with readers every Monday night.

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